Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Douglas County

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager
DATE:	November 1, 2012
RE:	Agreements Relating to Senior Services

Please place the following items on the November 6 City Commission Consent agenda:

· Authorize mayor to enter into a cooperation agreement with Douglas County and Douglas County Senior Services to provide for coordination of services to residents of Lawrence and Douglas County age 55 and older

· Authorize mayor to enter into agreement with Douglas County Senior Services relating to utilization of a city building located at 8^th and Vermont Streets

One of the recommendations of the Retiree Attraction and Retention Task Force was creation of a staff position to carry out the responsibility of creating and maintaining a central repository or “community portal” that would provide a single source of information about local services, programs, events and activities.  Responsibilities of the position would be development and coordination of the community portal, and generally providing support and coordination in implementation of the other recommendations of the report.

Commissioner Carter, County Commissioner Flory and staff from both the city and county have been working over the last several months with Douglas County Senior Services (DCSS) Interim Director Mike Wildgen in developing a plan for that agency to assume major responsibilities relating to implementation of the recommendations of the final report of the task force.

The DCSS Board has reviewed a number of documents which would allow for this arrangement. 

· A draft cooperation agreement between that entity, the City and County to coordinate services to Lawrence and Douglas County residents and to implement the recommendations of the task force report.  In addition to existing responsibility of the Executive Director of DCSS, additional responsibilities would include:

o Development of a community portal as a single source of information about local services, programs, events and activities

o Assisting with support of advisory groups relating to retirees and aging issues

o Ongoing review and identification of ways to serve the evolving social needs and expectations of an aging community

o Establishing an ambassador program comprised of volunteers to host retirees considering Lawrence as a place to live

o Oversight of a marketing plan to attract retirees to Lawrence and Douglas County

The agreement also outlines financial commitment from the City and County relating to the marketing campaign as well as enhanced funding for the executive director position.  Per the agreement additional costs for these items are to be divided equally between the City and County and subject to annual budget review.

· An agreement between DCSS and the City relating to use of the city building at 8^th and Vermont Streets.

· Revised By-laws for the organization, which includes as part of the agency’s mission the implementation of the recommendations of the task force.

The DCSS board approved the agreements at its October 23^rd meeting and the County Commission reviewed the agreements at the October 24 meeting, with final approval scheduled for November 7.  City approval is recommended for the November 6 City Commission meeting.

Staff recommends that the City Commission authorize the mayor to enter into the two agreements:  a cooperation agreement with Douglas County and DCSS and a facility agreement with DCSS.